2023 Volkswagen Taos vs Kia Seltos
The compact SUV market has seen a dramatic rise in popularity in recent years due to its seductive combination of utilitarian practicality and modern style. Consequently, brands are engaged in fierce competition to capture shoppers’ attention. Two of the newest entries in this class are the 2023 Volkswagen Taos and Kia Seltos. On the one hand, the Taos stands out with its sleek and stylish design, roomy interior, and cutting-edge technology. The Seltos, meanwhile, has a sportier look, a powerful yet efficient engine, and an impressive value proposition.
Both are affordable luxury SUVs heavily influenced by futuristic design aesthetics, making them great choices for those looking for a vehicle with style and substance. But which one is best for you? To help you decide, we pit these two crossovers against each other in a series of categories to determine which one deserves your hard-earned dollars. Prepare for an exciting ride as the Volkswagen Taos and Kia Seltos face off in a thrilling showdown.
Price
What better way to kick off this showdown than with the price? After all, budget is a major concern for many shoppers and a crucial factor to consider. The 2023 Volkswagen Taos starts at an MSRP of $24,155, while the 2023 Kia Seltos has a base MSRP of $23,390. While the difference may appear negligible, the key takeaway is that the Taos presents superior value to the Kia Seltos, offering more features to justify its higher price tag. These include standard 18-inch wheels (versus 17 inches in the Seltos), a fully digital cockpit, a heated steering wheel, and LED headlights.
Engine (Power)
Under the hood, the entry-level Volkswagen Taos has a 1.5L turbocharged four-cylinder engine that churns out an impressive 158 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque. It pairs with a sporty eight-speed automatic transmission on front-wheel-drive models and a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission on all-wheel-drive models. Front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive are available on all trims.
Meanwhile, the Kia Selto’s less powerful 2L four-cylinder engine dishes out a more pedestrian 146 horsepower and 132 lb-ft of torque, with every version coming standard with a continuously variable transmission. All-wheel drive is standard on the upper trims of the Seltos, while front-wheel-drive models are limited to the base trim.
Fuel Efficiency
Fuel efficiency is always a top concern for drivers when shopping for a new car. And in the growing market of compact SUVs, the 2023 Volkswagen Taos and the Kia Seltos stand out as strong contenders. While both boast impressive fuel economy, the Volkswagen Taos narrowly takes the lead with its city and highway ratings of 28 mpg and 36 mpg, respectively.
In contrast, the Kia Seltos gains 27 mpg in the city and 31 mpg on the highway. The difference may seem small, but every little bit counts when it comes to saving money at the gas pump. And with the Volkswagen Taos offering that added boost in efficiency, drivers can feel good about their choice for their daily commute or weekend road trip.
Seating, Dimensions, and Cargo Space
The 2023 Volkswagen Taos and Kia Seltos are both comfortable options for traveling with up to five passengers. The Taos beats out the Seltos with more overall cargo capacity and front- and rear-seat headroom. Regarding cargo space behind the second row, the Taos has 27.9 cubic feet, while the Seltos has 26.6 cubic feet. The front and rear seats of the Taos have 40.7 and 39.8 inches of headroom, respectively, compared with 40 and 38.4 inches for the Seltos.
Technology
Tech goodies abound in both the 2023 Volkswagen Taos and Kia Seltos. The base Taos S model has automatic LED headlights, rear LED lighting, a push-button start, and an 8-inch digital cluster. Moving up to the SE trim adds a larger 8-inch infotainment touchscreen, six speakers rather than four, wireless App-Connect for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, wireless charging, keyless entry, remote start, and heated front seats. The top Taos SEL includes a panoramic sunroof, exterior cornering lights, a front light bar, rain-sensing wipers, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, a 10.3-inch digital cluster, and eight speakers.
The base Seltos LX has an 8-inch touch screen, a 3.5-inch gauge cluster display, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a six-speaker audio system, keyless entry, and automatic headlights. Further up the range, the Seltos gets a remote start, a push-button ignition, a 10.3-inch infotainment touch screen with built-in navigation, wireless charging, hands-free keyless entry, a 10-way power driver’s seat, and heated front seats. The top Seltos SX adds LED headlights and fog lights, a larger 7-inch gauge cluster screen, and an eight-speaker Bose audio system.
It’s a close call, but ultimately the 2023 Volkswagen Taos has more to offer tech-savvy shoppers. So if you’re looking for a feature-rich crossover, the Taos reigns supreme.
Safety
Let’s face it: safety is one of the most important factors to consider when buying a car, and neither the Taos nor the Seltos skimp on their safety systems. Both boast forward collision warning systems with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane centering with lane departure warning, and automatic high beams.
The Taos takes it one step further by making its IQ.DRIVE active safety system standard in all trims. This adds adaptive cruise control and blind-spot monitoring to the already advanced safety features list. The Seltos also offers these features, but only available on higher trims, so it’s a plus if you go with the Taos.
Which Is the Better Car?
You could say we’re biased, but the Volkswagen Taos is the clear choice between these two models. It boasts a more powerful base engine, better fuel efficiency, and plenty of features to make every drive enjoyable. So if you’re looking for a compact SUV that checks all the boxes, look no further than the 2023 Volkswagen Taos.
Test-Drive the 2023 Volkswagen Taos at VW of Marion
Now that you know the 2023 Volkswagen Taos is a better pick than the Kia Seltos, why not come to VW of Marion and check it out in person? We also offer an extensive selection of new and pre-owned vehicles and competitive financing options for your convenience. Contact us today to schedule a test drive of the 2023 Volkswagen Taos and find out why it’s quickly becoming one of the most popular cars on the market.
Images via VW.com and Kia.com